Question reference: S2W-01723
- Asked by: Margaret Mitchell, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 30 July 2003
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Current status: Answered by Cathy Jamieson on 19 August 2003
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce legislation to address the issue of sexual grooming, similar to clause 17 of the Sexual Offenders Bill currently before the UK Parliament.
Answer
Lewd communication with a child through an internet chatroom would constitute the offence of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices. Sexual grooming can therefore already be caught under existing Scots law. In addition, depending on the exact circumstances, an adult who pretends to be a child for the purposes of securing a meeting with a child could be guilty of fraud, or an attempt to commit a sexual offence, or both. We are currently considering, whether the law in this area needs to be strengthened.